United States Of Baseball - Thoughts on the State of the Game

The New York Yankees have always been the most storied franchise in sports. But not all their stories are true.

No, even the most famous of all sports teams has been misremembered, misrepresented, misunderstood, and otherwise mis’ed through history’s many tellings and re-tellings. All along, the fictional has co-existed with the factual, hyperbole has taken the place of history, exaggerations have mixed with exactitudes. The Yankees’ many legends contain truth, alright, but it’s rarely been just the truth and nothing but the truth.

‘The Truth About Ruth (And More)’ is an entertaining antidote to all the above. With both surprising analysis and biting wit, author Peter Handrinos examines everything from the underestimated to the overrated and, along the way, provides perspectives on the Yankees’ authentic legacy in terms of stats and society, performances and personalities, comparisons and culture.

Whether placing Mickey Mantle’s legacy in an (unexpected) comparison or debunking Reggie Jackson’s (impossible) reputation, this is just the book to place the most familiar of franchises in a compelling new light. Those interested in re-examining and re-thinking their way through some remarkable baseball will find the real stories behind the Yankees’ most popular myths, legends, and lore.

Chapters include:

•Getting Tough with the '27 Yankees
•What Really Happened on Lou Gehrig Day
•DiMaggio 24, Mantle 0
•‘Yogi-ism’s’
•*
•‘The Most Hallowed Record in Sports’
•‘Bucky Dent’s Homer Was a Big Deal’
•‘The Yankees were Pedro’s Daddy’
•Joe Torre’s ‘Insult’
•‘Yankee Imperialism’
•The Yankees’ True Trophy Case
•The N.Y. Yankees & U.S. Steel

Peter Handrinos is a graduate of Yale University, a member of the Society for American Baseball Research, and a resident of Norwalk, CT. His first book was ‘Best New York Sports Arguments’.

‘The Truth About Ruth (And More):

Behind the New York Yankees’

Most Popular Myths, Legends, and Lore’

Triumph Books • On-Sale Date: March 11, 2009 • 224 pages

$11.53 • ISBN-13: 978-1-6007-8192-6

Posted 2/14/2009 @ 8:02 PM | New Book- 'The Truth About Ruth (And More)' | Read Entry

Advance Praise / Early Reviews

"A great book for those Yankee fans who aren't afraid to think differently about things they thought they knew . . . a must read."

-Ross Sheingold, 'New Stadium Insider'

"Interesting, fascinating . . . check out this book!"

-Ron Barr, Sports Byline USA

"One of the most original, thought-provoking Yankee books I’ve ever read. Great job, great read."

-Larry Millian, WSPL Miami

"I can’t say I agree with everything in it, but there’s no doubt that this one is excellent. Well worth any Yankee fan’s read."

-Rich Marazzi, ‘Inside Yankee Baseball’

"Simply one of the most fun, readable baseball books I’ve ever come across. ‘The Truth About Ruth (And More)’ is terrific."

-Vinny Aceto, WNYC

"‘The Truth About Ruth (And More)’ is breezy and light, yet extremely informative. It explodes many of the myths that have formed around the team over the years, but it also confirms many of the things I had suspected . . . all of the arguments are backed up by solid research and statistics, yet never gets bogged down in minutiae."

-Chris Lucas, YES Network

"Peter Handrinos' detailed account of Yankee history is chuck-a-buck full of terrific tidbits and fun-filled facts. It's also a terrific work of journalism."

-Peter Golenbock, author of 'The Bronx Zoo' and 'George'

"Yankees fans should really enjoy this."

-Dave Pinto, 'Baseball Musings'

"The book will appeal to Yankee fans of any age demographic. Old school can revisit what they think they know. New school gets a dose of memory lane. It's all good."

-Mark Serio, 'Baseball Hot Corner'

"Informative, fun . . . perfect for Yankee fans of all ages. I've already recommended it to several family members and friends."

-Dan LaTorraca, 'Pinstripes, PA'

"Anyone with an open mind and an interest in opinion- favorable or not- will enjoy reading ‘The Truth About Ruth (And More)’. This is a fresh and easy to read yet also engaging and informative."

-Steve Lombardi, 'Was Watching'

"I thoroughly enjoyed the book. You can tell that Handrinos did some thorough research and does an excellent job of keeping emotion away from facts. There's no doubt that he's a Yankee fan, but that does not make him get too sentimental, and that's what makes this book great."

-Roberto Alejandro

‘The Truth About Ruth (And More):

Behind the New York Yankees’

Most Popular Myths, Legends, and Lore’

Triumph Books • On-Sale Date: March 11, 2009 • 224 pages

$11.53 • ISBN-13: 978-1-6007-8192-6

Posted 2/14/2009 @ 8:01 PM | New Book- 'The Truth About Ruth (And More)' | Read Entry

INTRODUCTION

The Urban Legends

POPULAR MYTHS

1. The Truth about Ruth
Absolutely Flabulous • Back to Black • The Negro Leaguers • ‘The House Built For Ruth’ • The Big Sticks • The Babe & The Kid • Babe Ruth & Baby Ruth • The Sultanate • The Pinstripery • Train in Vain • Managing • Curses! • ‘The Most Complete Ballplayer of All Time’

2. ‘Yankee Stadium is ‘The House that Ruth Built’’

3. Four Facts and One Theory on Jake Ruppert
The Father of Yankee Style • The Higher League • ‘Ruppert Park’ • Don’t Break Up the Yankees • Separated at Birth?

4. Wally Pipp’s ‘Headache’

5. Getting Tough with the '27 Yankees

6. That Pirates / Scary Batting Practice Story

7. ‘Babe Ruth Called His Shot in the ’32 World Series’

8. ‘Cal Ripken ~ Lou Gehrig’

9. What Really Happened on Lou Gehrig Day

10. Mickey Myths
Three To 1st • The 565-Foot, Tape-Measure Home Run • The Rookie Card That Wasn’t

11. DiMaggio 24, Mantle 0

12. ‘Yogi-ism’s’ (Pt. 1)

13. ‘Yogi-ism’s’ (Pt. 2)

14. The Copa Fight & Billy Martin’s Exile

15. ‘Casey Stengel Screwed Up the 1960 World Series’

16. ‘Casey Stengel was a Clown’

17. Reel Life vs. Real Life- The Maris of ‘61*’ vs. the Maris of ’61

18. *

19. “The Most Hallowed Record in Sports”

20. ‘Steinbrenner Made His Money the Old-Fashioned Way- He Inherited It’

21. ‘And Then Steinbrenner Fired . . .’

22. ‘Mr. October’ (Pt. 1)

23. ‘Mr. October’ (Pt. 2)

24. Jax Facts
The 160 IQ • ‘For Four F---in’ Pages?!’ • ‘Three Swings, Three Home Runs’ • ‘Winning Teams Tend to Follow Me Around’ • ‘One of My Biggest Mistakes . . .’ • Reggie Jackson, Yankee

25. ‘Bucky Dent’s Homer Was a Big Deal’

26. ‘The ’79 Yankees Collapsed After Thurman Died’

27. ‘The Yankees were Pedro’s Daddy’

28. ‘Derek Jeter, Clutch Superstar’ (Pt. 1)

29. ‘Derek Jeter, Clutch Superstar’ (Pt. 2)

30. JeterLeader

31. Joe Torre’s Insult

32. ‘Yankee Stadium, 1923-2008’

33. ‘Yankee Imperialism’

34. Misc. Myths
The Façade • Gehrig in the Shadows • Even Better than the Real Thing • ‘Gordon Mantle’ • Mr. Kekich & Mrs. Peterson and Mr. Peterson & Mrs. Kekich • ‘The 1975 Red Sox Saved Baseball’ • Billy Martin’s Yankee Pride • Don’t Call Me Lightnin’ • ‘Mr. May’ • ‘A Better BASEBALL Player’ • The Most Incredible Yankee Story of All Time • Mystique & Aura • The Ex Files • Don Zimmer, Metalhead • ‘Mr. November’

THE OVER- / UNDER-

35. The Most Over-rated Yankees of All Time
Don Mattingly, 1B • Bobby Richardson, 2B • Derek Jeter, SS • Graig Nettles, 3B • Paul O’Neill, OF • Bobby Murcer, OF • Roger Maris, OF • Waite Hoyt, P • Ralph Houk, Manager • Joe DiMaggio, Team Leader • Billy Crystal, SuperFan

36. The Most Over-rated Yankee Lineup of All Time

37. The Most Under-rated Yankees of All Time
Johnny Blanchard, C • Wally Pipp, 1B • Joe Gordon, 2B • Gil McDougald, SS • Clete Boyer, 3B • George Selkirk, OF • Charlie Keller, OF • Roy White, OF • Spud Chandler, P • Yogi Berra, Manager • Whitey Ford, Team Leader • George Costanza, Assistant to the Traveling Secretary

38. The Most Under-rated Yankee Lineup of All Time

WHO SHOULD HAVE WON WHAT

39. The Yankees’ True Trophy Case

THE YES-MEN

40. What They Left Out of the Yankee-ographies

CONCLUSION

The N.Y. Yankees & U.S. Steel

‘The Truth About Ruth (And More):

Behind the New York Yankees’

Most Popular Myths, Legends, and Lore’

Triumph Books • On-Sale Date: March 11, 2009 • 224 pages

$11.53 • ISBN-13: 978-1-6007-8192-6

Posted 2/14/2009 @ 7:59 PM | New Book- 'The Truth About Ruth (And More)' | Read Entry

Introduction: The Urban Legends

The New York Yankees have long been the most storied franchise in sports. But not all the stories are true.

No, even the most famed of teams has been misremembered, misrepresented, misunderstood, and otherwise mis’ed through history’s many tellings and re-tellings. All along, the fictional has co-existed with the factual, rumors have mingled with reality, exaggerations have mixed with exactitudes.

Much of the mis’ing problem, no doubt, comes from the way that Yankee lore traces well back into the 1920’s and 1930’s, an era with very different standards of journalism. From that long-bygone time until at least the 1960’s, baseball was treated more as entertainment than as news, and otherwise bored beat reporters felt perfectly free to craft semi-fictional tales selling the game through some measure of color, humanity, humor, what-have-you; long-retired chroniclers freely confessed that they polished quotations beyond all recognition, covered up unpleasant incidents, concocted others, and generally acted as public relation flacks without portfolio.* They were more storytellers than straight-up news reporters.

*My favorite example of the old ways: years afterwards, it was revealed that sometime in the 1920’s, a married player ran through the aisle of a crowded railroad car, naked, trailed by an equally naked woman clutching a knife.
Who was she? What was with the cutlery?
Who knows?
The ‘reporters’ at hand glanced up, chuckled, and promptly went back to their poker hands. They’d never heard of Woodward and Bernstein.

Just as long as they didn’t shade matters so much as to be completely implausible- an iguana escape couldn’t be passed off as a Godzilla rampage- the media saw the unannounced forays into creative writing as a means to go about the ultracompetitive business of selling newspapers and books in New York, the most ultracompetitive city of them all.

That long legacy of less-than-scrupulous reportage meant that Yankees images were, very often, ‘legendary’ in the original sense of the term- their essential realities were grafted onto elements of the fanciful, the made-up. They contained some truth, alright, but it was rarely just the truth and nothing but the truth. In all the tale-telling, for instance, Mickey Mantle wasn’t just blessed with immense strength and speed, but with nearly-superhuman powers, and Yogi Berra wasn’t just the author of a handful of memorable quips, but something like a one-man comedy festival. And so on. Almost always, the original depictions were focused on selling, selling, selling, then took on a life of their own because those who should have known better basically 1) didn't know better, 2) didn't care, or 3) didn’t want to rock the boat.

Another significant factor in the creation of Yankee mythology was the extreme nature of the franchise itself. It goes without saying that, for nearly 90 years, it’s been the National Pastime’s true flagship- home to the most championships, workplace of the most Hall of Famers, most familiar touchstone to everything from personalities and rivalries and traditions and virtually everything else that makes baseball baseball. Surely the Yankees own the all-time franchise record for all-time franchise records, so when commentators need to put a new spin on the club’s already stupendous essentials, they’ve been tempted to puff them up so they’re even larger than life.

Babe Ruth, for instance, possessed a personal charisma and cultural impact to match his on-field accomplishments, so it’s no wonder that he tended to attract all manner of wild rumors, controversies, and claims in the way that magnets attract steel. Much of it- from whatever basis - endured because it tapped into the public’s ready fascination with his entire persona. Lou Gehrig, similarly, has always been linked to figures like Wally Pipp and Cal Ripken, Jr. because the connections, however misconceived, seemed to highlight Gehrig’s essential qualities. Closer to the present day, Reggie Jackson’s undeniable flair for the dramatic and Derek Jeter’s sense of cool have provided a hook for more punched-up copy.

Anyway, this book is a long overdue attempt to deal with all that not-truth, to retire some sacred cows, to knock over a few apple carts, to bull-rush a couple of china shops, to crash a few conventions. Its skeptical spirit seems long overdue, but might invite some other questions of its own, so best to get that out of the way right away.

For one thing, a few fans might simply prefer their team history as is, and that’s fair enough. They shouldn’t buy this book. The following chapters are all about revisiting the Yankees’ old retrospectives and, where appropriate, replacing them with something more sound and reliable; it’s just the kind of thing hard-line traditionalists will hate. They should stick with Santa Claus.

Others might see a critique of Yankee myths as a veiled attack on the team itself, as an indirect means to ‘cut them down to size’. Not so.

For the record, I’m a big Yankee fan. Have been ever since dad took me, age five, to see the ‘Bronx Zoo’ team of 1977, and researching the Yankees’ miscellaneous myths has only made me admire the franchise even more. I’ve found that, in more than a few instances, their most memorable moments have been even more wondrous than we’ve been led to believe and, even when that wasn’t the case, it was alright. The Yankees aren’t so very delicate. They don’t need old wives’ tales to make them the most extraordinary team of them all- they’re all that without the extra hoo-ha, thankyouverymuch. Always have been, always will be.

Finally, there’s the question of accuracy. A skeptic/reader has every right to say “well, Mr. Smarty-Pants Author, who I’ve never heard of, how do you know your answers are so 100% reliably exactly right?”

To that the only honest answer is: “I don’t.”

In most every instance, some measure of credible evidence and stats provide solid rejoinders to some pretty flimsy notions. I mean, there are objective facts and black-and-white numbers that tell us that the ’79 Yankees didn’t collapse after Thurman Munson’s death and Yankee Stadium was, in all but name, demolished long ago. These may be inconvenient facts and ignored numbers, but they do exist, and they declare that what most commentators and fans think they know just ain’t so.

Beyond that, admittedly, there are some cases that will never be completely closed.

Much has been lost in the mists of time, so it is, indeed, within the realm of possibility that the Pittsburgh Pirates were, in fact, swept out of the 1927 World Series because they were demoralized by their opponents’ pre-game batting practice. I wasn’t there- not even my grandpa was there- so I can’t claim any metaphysical certainty over what went down on that particular day. Me and grandpa weren’t witnesses to the Babe’s ‘called shot’ incident, either, and, in the world of worlds, I acknowledge there is the slimmest of chances that Reggie Jackson possesses a 160 IQ. That sort of thing. There’s no first-hand, iron-clad information on those issues, and many more besides, so the cases against them, no matter how persuasive, has to be circumstantial in nature.

Still, even where it’s been impossible to come up with infallible answers to everything, it’s often been possible to produce some significantly better answers to alot. That’s what this book is about. It’s for anyone who wants to examine, re-examine, think, and re-think what’s behind the New York Yankees’ most popular myths, legends, and lore.

C’mon. Let’s go.

‘The Truth About Ruth (And More):

Behind the New York Yankees’

Most Popular Myths, Legends, and Lore’

Triumph Books • On-Sale Date: March 11, 2009 • 224 pages

$11.53 • ISBN-13: 978-1-6007-8192-6

Posted 2/14/2009 @ 7:58 PM | New Book- 'The Truth About Ruth (And More)' | Read Entry

Talking Points

• Examines Yankee franchise history through the many myths, legends, and lore associated with Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Casey Stengel, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, and Derek Jeter.

• Also covers remarkable stories connected to Jacob Ruppert, Wally Pipp, the 1927 Yankees, Billy Martin, Roger Maris, George Steinbrenner, Bucky Dent, and Joe Torre.

• Takes on the over-rated, including Bobby Richardson, Graig Nettles, Paul O’Neill, and Billy Crystal.

• Advocates for the under-rated, including Gil McDougald, Clete Boyer, Roy White, and George Costanza.

• Various chapters focus on statistical breakdowns, historical analysis, performance comparisons, social influences, cultural impacts, sports financing, player styles, and humor.

• Off-beat topics include colorful quotes, awards, nicknames, brawls, ballparks, and game breakdowns.

‘The Truth About Ruth (And More):

Behind the New York Yankees’

Most Popular Myths, Legends, and Lore’

Triumph Books • On-Sale Date: March 11, 2009 • 224 pages

$11.53 • ISBN-13: 978-1-6007-8192-6

Posted 2/14/2009 @ 7:57 PM | New Book- 'The Truth About Ruth (And More)' | Read Entry

Questions and Answers

How did you start off with ‘The Truth About Ruth (And More)’?

I originally wanted to do a book about the most popular myths to be found throughout Major League Baseball, but my publisher, Triumph Books, thought that idea was too broad, that the myths idea would work better if it just focused on the Yankees. I was reluctant to try it at first, but the more I got to thinking about it, the more I realized that there was more than enough material to sustain a good-sized, 70,000+ word manuscript.

Why did you decide to write it?

Oh, the usual reasons- hunger for literary fame and fortune. The baseball book-groupies I’ve heard so much about.

Seriously, though, I wanted to write it because I was very intrigued by the book’s concept. It seemed ambitious, in that it could put the most familiar of franchises in a whole new light. It also seemed original. I believe I’ve read most every important Yankee book that’s come out over the last 30 or 40 years, but I’ve never seen an explicitly revisionist take on the team, one that said, ‘OK, let’s examine, re-examine, think, and re-think the conventional wisdom around this topic or that player’.

What’s your intended readership?

Age 13 to 83, from kids to die-hard, old-time fans. All along, I tried to set up the chapters so a novice could learn about the topics, while still adding a lot of new facts and opinion for those who were already cognizant of the topics.

How would you describe your approach?

‘Serious fun’ is a phrase that fits, I suppose. I wanted to supply some rock-solid research and analysis while, at the same time, maintaining the ‘fun and games’ aspect. More than anything else, I wanted to keep the readers intrigued enough to turn the pages.

What was the greatest challenge in the writing?

I wanted to be even-handed as possible, to give both sides of an issue. I always present a point of view, and some are straight advocacy pieces, but it was important to always acknowledge how and why some reasonable people have disagreed with some of my conclusions.

Beyond that, it was important to maintain a broad scope. When you’re talking about over 100 years of Yankee history, obviously, there’s a whole lot of research and writing involved, but beyond that, there has to be a whole range of approaches. I wanted to be versatile enough to switch around in everything from stat analysis, history, and sociology to media criticism and style. I even wrote a couple of humor chapters.

What was the most rewarding part of the process?

Going in, I thought it might be tough to cover over 40 long-ish chapters. Heck, it was easy, because there have been so many great teams and athletes and events along the years, all of them permitting new angles for analysis. I loved getting into all of that, for better and for worse.

OK, so who gets a ‘for better’ assessment?

Oh, Babe Ruth may have been even bigger and we’ve all been led to believe, both as a ball player and as a personality. There are a number of other figures that come off great, in my personal view- Jacob Ruppert, Lou Gehrig, Yogi Berra, Casey Stengel, and George Steinbrenner among them. There’s an ‘All-Underrated’ roster, too, one that includes guys like Gil McDougald, Clete Boyer, and Roy White.

Who gets the ‘for worse’ criticism?

I suppose it’s no secret that I can throw a couple of elbows, too, mostly at guys who are big enough to take it. I do criticize guys like Joe DiMaggio, Reggie Jackson, Derek Jeter, and Joe Torre, in addition to the over-rated likes of Bobby Richardson, Graig Nettles, Paul O’Neill, and Billy Crystal.

Do you anticipate that ‘The Truth About Ruth (And More)’ will be controversial?

Well, I never set out to write something just to be ‘outrageous’- that kind of thing is as boring as conventional wisdom itself. The book’s contrarian, but not reflexively so. I hope it’s solid enough that even those who disagree will concede that are some new insights in the arguments, if nothing else.

At this point, are you more or less of a Yankee fan?

I’ve always been a Yankee fan, but now? Forget it. I’m much, much more of a fan.

They’ve been my favorite team ever since my dad took me to games as a little boy, but writing the book made me realize just how accomplished, unusual, hilarious, complex, . . . just plain interesting the New York Yankees have always been. More than ever, they’re the baseball team, the way Coca-Cola is the soda pop and Everest is the mountain. If my fellow fans enjoy reading the book as much as I enjoyed writing it, it’ll be a big win-win.

‘The Truth About Ruth (And More):

Behind the New York Yankees’

Most Popular Myths, Legends, and Lore’

Triumph Books • On-Sale Date: March 11, 2009 • 224 pages

$11.53 • ISBN-13: 978-1-6007-8192-6

Posted 2/14/2009 @ 7:56 PM | New Book- 'The Truth About Ruth (And More)' | Read Entry

Tristate Tour '007

Guess what book made it on to Bookscan's bestseller list for sports paperbacks in greater New York? I'll give you one hint.

Many thanks to all the family, friends, and new friends that made it possible. You should all feel welcomed to drop a line any time, and anyone who's interested has plenty of 'meet the author' dates to pick from:

Jan. 31- Enfield Public Library (Enfield, CT)

Feb. 3- Wilton Library Association (Wilton, CT)

Feb. 4- Square One Theatre (Stratford, CT)

Feb. 10- New York Public Library (New York, NY)

Feb. 11- Barnes & Noble (Danbury, CT)

Feb. 17- Borders Books (Milford, CT)

Feb. 18- Borders Books (Farmington, CT)

Feb. 24- Barnes & Noble (Yonkers, NY)

Feb. 25- Barnes & Noble (Edgewater, NJ)

Feb. 27- North Castle Public Library (Armonk, NY)

March 20- 86th St. & 2nd Ave. Barnes & Noble (New York, NY)

April 7- Borders Books (Wilton, CT)

April 12- Hunan Balcony Restaurant (Riverdale, NY)

pch@UnitedStatesofBaseball.com

‘The Best New York Sports Arguments:

The 100 Most Controversial, Debatable Questions for Die-Hard Fans’

SourceBooks, Inc. • On-Sale Date: November 28, 2006 • 270 pages

$14.95 • ISBN: 1-4022-0823-5

Posted 1/19/2007 @ 9:28 PM | Tristate Tour '007 | 0 Comments

The New Book

It's entitled ‘The Best New York Sports Arguments: The 100 Most Controversial, Debatable Questions for Die-Hard Fans’, and you can find the complete publicity kit through the following links:

Advance Praise/Early Reviews

Description

Talking Points

Questions and Answers

Press Release

Featured Chapters

Table of Contents- Baseball

Buy at Amazon

pch@UnitedStatesofBaseball.com

‘The Best New York Sports Arguments:

The 100 Most Controversial, Debatable Questions for Die-Hard Fans’

SourceBooks, Inc. • On-Sale Date: November 28, 2006 • 270 pages

$14.95 • ISBN: 1-4022-0823-5

Posted 9/1/2006 @ 5:32 PM | The New Book | Read Entry

Description

New York’s an incredible sports town, and the reasons go beyond its unmatched array of high-profile teams, star athletes, championship titles, and landmark moments.

What truly sets the Big Apple apart are its sports fans and sports conversations. Whether the subject’s baseball, football, basketball, hockey, tennis, boxing . . . if something’s within shouting distance of the tabloids or the Times, New Yorkers are always talking about it. No other town features so many discussions over who’s winning, who’s losing, who’s coming back, who’s collapsing, who should be hired, and who should be fired.

The city’s all about controversial questions, and ‘The Best New York Sports Arguments’ goes to the heart of it all. Its 100 chapters cover more than a century’s worth of topics, examining everything from the underestimated to the overrated, from the heroes to the goats. Along the way, the book takes diverse perspectives in all athletics’ stats and society, humor and history, comparisons and culture.

With both surprising facts and biting insight, Peter Handrinos presents a highly original take on the greatest sports town in America. There’s one thing all die-hard fans can agree on- ‘The Best New York Sports Arguments’ stands out as one of the most compelling books of the year.

Chapters include:

What are New York’s biggest sports myths?

Were the ’62 Mets the worst team of all time?

Parcells or Belichick- who’s the better coach?

Was Ewing to blame for the Knicks’ title draught?

Are the New Jersey Devils the classiest team in New York?

Connors & McEnroe- who was worse?

Will the Belmont Stakes ever see another Triple Crown winner?

Was Mike Tyson ever a great heavyweight?

pch@UnitedStatesofBaseball.com

‘The Best New York Sports Arguments:

The 100 Most Controversial, Debatable Questions for Die-Hard Fans’

SourceBooks, Inc. • On-Sale Date: November 28, 2006 • 270 pages

$14.95 • ISBN: 1-4022-0823-5

Posted 9/1/2006 @ 5:21 PM | Description | Read Entry

Talking Points

• Examines baseball, football, basketball, basketball, hockey, tennis, boxing, and horse racing, as well as golf and stickball.

• Covers every New York team- the Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets, Knicks, Nets, Rangers, Islanders, and Devils. The book even includes the long-gone Brooklyn Dodgers and baseball Giants.

• Includes personalities like John J. McGraw, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, Roger Maris, Casey Stengel, Tom Seaver, Reggie Jackson, Derek Jeter, and George Steinbrenner of baseball.

• Also includes personalities like Vince Lombardi, Joe Namath, Mark Gastineau, Wayne Chrebet, and Wellington Mara of football, along with Clyde Frazier, Patrick Ewing, Pat Riley, and Isiah Thomas of basketball.

• Various chapters focus on statistical breakdowns, historical analysis, performance comparisons, social influences, cultural impacts, sports financing, team rivalries, player styles, humor, and parody.

• Advocates for the underrated, including Allie Reynolds, Walter O’Malley, Casey Stengel, Alex Rodriguez, Clyde Frazier, the expansion Islanders, and the Devils franchise.

• Takes on the overrated, including Roger Maris, Vince Lombardi, Joe Namath, Bill Parcells, Wellington Mara, and Mike Tyson.

• Also covers the overlooked, including Fred Merkle, Chuck Dressen, Horace Stoneham, the new Yankee Stadium, the ‘Brooklyn Nets’, and the Triple Crown.

• Off-beat topics include sports traditions, memorable fans, colorful quotes, franchise moves, proud moments & low moments, team rivalries & personal rivalries, myths, awards, athlete-celebrities, expansion teams, ‘guaranteed’ wins, player etiquette, and the state of sports.

pch@UnitedStatesofBaseball.com

‘The Best New York Sports Arguments:

The 100 Most Controversial, Debatable Questions for Die-Hard Fans’

SourceBooks, Inc. • On-Sale Date: November 28, 2006 • 270 pages

$14.95 • ISBN: 1-4022-0823-5

Posted 9/1/2006 @ 5:20 PM | Talking Points | Read Entry

Questions and Answers

How did you start off with ‘The Best New York Sports Arguments’?

My publisher first approached me with the idea to cover all of New York’s sports history, in a book covering 100 chapters. I was reluctant to try it at first, if only because of the project’s sheer ambition- they were talking about covering baseball, football, basketball, hockey, tennis, boxing, and racing over more than a century.

Why did you decide to write it?

Oh, the usual reasons- hunger for literary fame and fortune! Seriously, though, I was very intrigued by the concept, not only because it was very ambitious, but it was original. I believe I’ve read most every important sports book published over the last 30 or 40 years, but I’ve never seen a good book tackling all New York sports.

Finally, as I considered it, I got really excited about the prospect of examining the questions and controversies and misunderstood events that have come up over the years. There’ve been more than a few, that’s for sure.

What’s your intended readership?

Age 13 to 83, from kids to die-hard, old-time fans. All along, I tried to set up the chapters so a novice could learn about the topics, while still adding a lot of new facts and opinion for those who were already familiar with the topics.

How would you describe your approach?

‘Serious fun’ is a phrase that fits, I suppose. I wanted to supply some rock-solid research and analysis while, at the same time, maintaining the ‘fun and games’ aspect. More than anything else, I wanted to keep the readers intrigued enough to turn the pages.

What was the greatest challenge in the writing?

I’d have to go back to the ambition, I guess. When you’re talking about 100 chapters, obviously, there’s a whole lot of research and writing involved, but beyond that, there has to be a whole range of approaches. I wanted to be versatile enough to switch around in everything from stat analysis, history, and sociology to media criticism and style. I even wrote a few humor/parody chapters.

Apart from that, I wanted to give both sides of the issues whenever possible. I always present a point of view, and some are straight advocacy pieces, but it was important to acknowledge when reasonable people have disagreed with some of the conclusions.

What was the most rewarding part of the process?

Going in, I thought it might be tough to fill 100 chapters. Heck, it was easy, because there have been so many great teams and athletes and events along the years, all of them permitting new angles for analysis or argument. I loved getting into that.

I’ll freely admit, at the beginning of the process, baseball was, by far, my favorite sport. At the end, though, I came across with an appreciation for just about everything. I liked some athletes more than others, but, for better or worse, I learned to how special all sports can be.

OK, so who gets a ‘for better’ assessment in the book?

Oh, Babe Ruth may have been even bigger than we’ve all been led to believe, both as a ball player and as the true ‘Athlete of the Century’. There are a number of figures that come off great, in my personal view- Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, Allie Reynolds, Bill Belichick, Clyde Frazier, and Mark Messier among them.

Who comes in for some rough criticism?

There’s a dishonor roll, too, and it includes guys like Roger Maris, Joe Namath, Bill Parcells, Patrick Ewing, and Jimmy Connors. Also, polician/fans and broadcaster John Sterling. I don’t want to give away too much- readers have to buy the book to find out for themselves!

Do you anticipate that ‘The Best New York Sports Arguments’ will be controversial?

I guess it will be, at least in some corners. I always wanted to be original, and frequently that means being contrarian, but not reflexively so. I never set out to write something just to be ‘outrageous’. Even those who disagree with the book might concede some pretty good reasons behind the arguments, if nothing else.

At this point, are you more or less of a sports fan?

I’ve always been a sports nut, but now? Forget it. I’m much, much more of a fan. If the public enjoys reading the book as much as I enjoyed writing it, it’ll be a big win-win.

pch@UnitedStatesofBaseball.com

‘The Best New York Sports Arguments:

The 100 Most Controversial, Debatable Questions for Die-Hard Fans’

SourceBooks, Inc. • On-Sale Date: November 28, 2006 • 270 pages

$14.95 • ISBN: 1-4022-0823-5

Posted 9/1/2006 @ 5:16 PM | Questions and Answers | Read Entry

Press Release

THE MANY ARGUMENTS IN NEW YORK SPORTS

Anywhere two or more New Yorkers might gather, you can find fans arguing about the in’s and out’s of baseball, football, basketball, hockey, tennis, boxing, and the rest. Not infrequently, fans’ voices are raised, arms are waved, chops are busted, and stray pretzels are tossed. And all that’s before the die-hards start hitting the city’s talk radio, lighting up internet sites, or devouring reams of newspapers, magazines, books, and every other conceivable platform for raging debate.

Forget baseball- around New York, the real national pastime has fans arguing all sports, all the time.

A new book tackles New Yorkers’ favorite arguments in all their glory. Syndicated columnist Peter Handrinos has written a new tome entitled ‘The Best New York Sports Arguments: The 100 Most Controversial, Debatable Questions for Die-Hard Fans’, and it’s a doozy.

“I wanted to write something that reflected all the important sports, and look at them in a variety of ways, from stats to society, humor to history, comparisons to culture,” says Handrinos.

An ambitious mission statement, indeed, but the first-time author may have succeeded in fulfilling it. A glance at the book’s Table of Contents reveals chapters on every major franchise, from events as old as 1902 and as recent as 2006. Apparently, New Yorkers practically invented big-time American sports and we’re still generating some of its more fascinating questions.

Handrinos has a couple of theories on Gotham’s a-chugging sports machine. “A lot of it has to go to the fact that the country’s biggest market has always attracted the best of the best, in athletics as in all walks of life,” said the Norwalk, CT native. “Apart from that, there’s a way that our athletics reflect the city itself. Most New Yorkers have to be intense competitors to survive in daily life, and they’re naturally attracted to the intense competitors to be found in diamonds, gridirons, courts, and the rest.”

Sure, but why all the sports nuts’ yelling and bickering?

“Oh, don’t think of it as yelling and bickering,” chuckles Handrinos, 34. “Think of it as loud, passionate conversation- beneath all the bluster, most fans are pretty big-hearted, friendly people, and they simply utilize sports to bond with those they care about. Whatever team they might root for or against, they’re united in their caring.”

Hmmm. Raucous New York sports fans are actually . . . friendly and united? Now there’s something you could argue.

pch@UnitedStatesofBaseball.com

‘The Best New York Sports Arguments:

The 100 Most Controversial, Debatable Questions for Die-Hard Fans’

SourceBooks, Inc. • On-Sale Date: November 28, 2006 • 270 pages

$14.95 • ISBN: 1-4022-0823-5

Posted 9/1/2006 @ 5:13 PM | Press Release | 0 Comments

Featured Chapters

• Do New York sports matter?

• What are New York’s greatest sports traditions?

• Was Chuck Dressen the real goat of the ’51 Dodgers’ pennant collapse?

• Why were the ’69 Mets the most amazin’ story in baseball history?

• Jeter & ARod- who’s the better clutch hitter?

• What was the biggest disaster in the Jets’ move to Giants Stadium?

• Was Wellington Mara a true football fan?

• Michael Jordan & Pat Riley- who was public enemy #1 in the Garden?

• Is Isiah completely responsible for the Knicks fiasco?

• Namath & Messier- who made the greater ‘guarantee’?

• What was the greatest US Open of all time?

• Why is New York boxing so screwed up?

• Will we ever see another Triple Crown winner?

• Babe Ruth vs. Air Jordan- who was the true ‘Athlete of the Century’?

pch@UnitedStatesofBaseball.com

‘The Best New York Sports Arguments:

The 100 Most Controversial, Debatable Questions for Die-Hard Fans’

SourceBooks, Inc. • On-Sale Date: November 28, 2006 • 270 pages

$14.95 • ISBN: 1-4022-0823-5

Posted 9/1/2006 @ 5:10 PM | Featured Chapters | Read Entry

Table of Contents- Baseball

Was Merkle to blame for Merkle’s Boner?

Who was the biggest Yankee hater of them all?

Did the Yankees’ Carl Mays commit an on-field manslaughter?

The Babe & Barry- who was the better hitter?

The Babe & Barry- who was the better all-around player?

The Babe & Barry- what about the different historical eras?

Lou & Cal Jr.- who was tougher?

What would have happened if Jackie Robinson failed?

Who was the most underrated star in Yankee history?

Was Chuck Dressen the real goat of the ’51 Dodgers’ pennant collapse?

Was Don Larsen’s perfect game the most shocking event in baseball history?

Did Brooklyn abandon the Dodgers?

What was the dumbest move in the history of New York sports?

Did Roger Maris deserve a hard time in ’61?

Were the new Mets really the old Dodgers?

Were the ’62 Mets the worst team of all time?

Was Casey Stengel all that funny?

Matty, Whitey, & Tom Terrific- who was New York’s greatest pitcher?

Why were the ’69 Mets the most amazin’ story in baseball history?

Who was the Yankees’ real 'Mr. October'?

What was the saddest farewell in New York sports?

Jeter & ARod- who’s the better clutch hitter?

Jeter & ARod- who’s the better leader?

What moments have Yankee haters loved most?

What were the coolest nicknames of all time?

Will the Yankees’ new ball park demolish tradition?

Is King George a tyrant?

Why haven’t the Mets ever had a no-hitter?

Are the Red Sox the New York Yankees of Massachusetts?
Do the Yankees and Red Sox hate each other?

What were the most emotional moments in Yankee history?

Are the Mets second place in New York?

pch@UnitedStatesofBaseball.com

‘The Best New York Sports Arguments:

The 100 Most Controversial, Debatable Questions for Die-Hard Fans’

SourceBooks, Inc. • On-Sale Date: November 28, 2006 • 270 pages

$14.95 • ISBN: 1-4022-0823-5

Posted 9/1/2006 @ 5:06 PM | Table of Contents- Baseball | Read Entry

Advance Praise/Early Reviews

"Indispensable to any New York sports fan. It's somehow both irreverent and serious."

-Jeremy Schaap, ESPN

“Peter Handrinos's lively book will start as many arguments as it settles. Great fun."

-Alex Belth, SI.com

“A truly interesting, intelligent book.”

-Peter Golenbock, author of ‘Amazin’ & ‘The Bronx Zoo’

“A very entertaining read."

-Marty Appel, former Media Relations Director for the New York Yankees

"Peter Handrinos takes us on a wild, rollicking journey through New York sports history. This rich treasury of stories and subjects promises to entertain, incite, enlighten, and thrill even the most devoted New York sports fans. It's a blast."

-Tom Stanton, author of ‘The Final Season’

“I truly loved it. A terrific book.”

-Peter Williams, author of ‘When the Giants Were Giants’

"An interesting and historical take . . . Any book that questions longstanding ‘truths’ deserves a place in my sports library.”

-Elliott Kalb, author of ‘Who’s Better, Who’s Best in Basketball’

“I can see this book being indispensable in many a New York fan . . . Peter quite obviously researched exhaustively, so this book is useful both as a reference book and debate-starter. I can also see this book pleasing a ton of sport-hungry youngsters who are interested in getting the lowdown on sports history. This praise doesn't come easy, either- I hail from the Boston area.”

-Michael Woods, ‘The Sweet Science’

“In a completely unique city, Peter Handrinos has written a one-of-a-kind book. I’ve never seen a project take on so many topics in New York’s incredible athletics, or approach them with such evident preparation and joy.”

-Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Wolff, from the foreword

"A lighthearted yet mature and detailed examination of a hundred questions we've all probably thought about at any given moment watching games in these parts. What I love about this extraordinarily logical book is it takes every issue seriously because we as sports fans do. Handrinos doesn't level cheap shots or seek easy ways out and is marvelously even-handed. There's plenty of Mets in here, but it's not necessarily pro-Met or anti-Met (or pro- or anti-anybody). It's in favor of free thinking. That's always appreciated by the sports fan who loves to read."

-Greg Prince, Fear & Faith in Flushing

“This book if fun to read, in fact I couldn’t put it down . . . I rifled through all 270 pages and was sorry I finished it so quickly.”

-Shari Forst, Most Valuable Network

“In-depth . . . fascinating . . . fearless . . . often funny . . . The author’s knowledge with regards to his subject matter is paramount, obviously, but what really comes across in the book is the passion. The passion with which he writes is equaled only by the passion with which New York sports fans root, which is why you’ll find it so difficult to put the book down.”

-Mike Kenny, The (Middletown, NJ) Courier

"If you're looking for the perfect gift for the sports nut in your family, well, then look no further . . . Intriguing and rewarding . . . You’ll be kicking yourself at times and nodding in agreement at others. The 'Best New York Sports Arguments' is just that kind of book. You won’t be disappointed."

-Jeff Lykes, MVN.com

“Surprising . . . A talented writer with a flair for drilling down to the most interesting facts . . . This is a great book that will surely give you hours of entertainment.”

-Jeff Brohel, Metsquire

“An impressive read . . . covering an incredible breadth of topics . . . I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

-Jack Dickey, Crosstown Rivals

pch@UnitedStatesofBaseball.com

‘The Best New York Sports Arguments:

The 100 Most Controversial, Debatable Questions for Die-Hard Fans’

SourceBooks, Inc. • On-Sale Date: November 28, 2006 • 270 pages

$14.95 • ISBN: 1-4022-0823-5

Posted 9/1/2006 @ 4:51 PM | Advance Praise/Early Reviews | Read Entry